The recent American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power competition in the Arctic. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
